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No. 6l6,740. Patented Dec. 27, I898. B. A. SLOAN & J. E. L. BARNES.HERMETIGALLY SEALED CAN AND OPENER F08 SAME.

(Application filed. Jan. 28, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ROBERT ALEXANDER SLOAN AND JOHN E. LLOYD BARNES, OFBIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND.

HERMETlCALLY-SEALED CAN AND OPENER FOR SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,740, dated December27, 1898.

Application filed January 28, 1897. Serial No. 621,075. (No model.)

T 0 CLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT ALEXANDER SLoAN and JOHN EDWARD LLOYDBARNES, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in Birkenhead,in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in I-Iermetically-Sealed Cans and Openers for the Same, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Our invention has reference to the opening of hermeticallysealed cansthe covers of which are made of thin tinned plate or the like; and itconsists, broadly, in providing an opener in the form of a serrated rimand in some cases so modifying the construction of the can as to suitthe operation of the opener.

We have illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure I shows the can and the opener in position ready foroperation, all in medial sectional elevation. Fig. 11 is a plan of theopener clasped ready for use, and Fig. III is a development showing theopener before it is bent into shape. Fig. IV is an elevation showing theclasped part when looked at in the direction of the arrow A, and Fig. Vis a sectional elevation looking in the reverse direction. Fig. VI showshow the ends of the opener are clasped.

Throughout the drawings the same parts are indicated by the samereference-figures.

The can 1 may be of any suitable size and configuration, and it isusually provided with a cover 2, made of thin tinned plate, and the canis opened by cutting through the cover 2 as near the edge thereof aspossible.

According to our invention We effect the cutting by means of theserrated edge of a thin metallic strip, which is caused to cut throughthe cover by pressure exerted normally thereto.

It will be seen that the cutter is formed by bending a thin serratedstrip 3, Fig. III, to the contour of the periphery of the cover, thedimensions of the strip when bent being somewhat less than the internaldimensions of the can. The strip' or opener is then placed over thecover 2 with its serrated edge in contact therewith and pressure isapplied in a direction normal to the cover, with the result that theopener cuts through the latter, and so opens the can. The ordinary lidwhich is usually supplied with the can may be used to transmit thepressure of the hand to the opener; but with the View of facilitatingthe cutting we prefer usually to modify the lid and the cover of thecan, and in some instances we modify the body of the can so as to adaptit to snugly house the cutter.

The modifications of the lid and the cover are clearly shown in thefigure last referred to and are as follows: The lid 4 has a peripheralrecess, which forms a shoulder 5, which is adapted to preserve thecontour of the opener and to locate it in proper position when thepressure is applied. The rim of the lid is made sufficiently deep toembrace the can when placed over the opener, by which means the lid isconcentrically located, as shown in Fig. I. The cover 2 has a peripheralgroove 6, which serves to locate the apices of the serrations of theopener.

The adjacent edges of the opener may,when the opener is bent to shape,be soldered or otherwise permanently united. We prefer, however, inorder to facilitate the packing of the opener, to form the ends so thatthey may be clasped together as shown. An opener made in this manner mayfor convenience of packing be sprung open while unclasped sufficientlyto encircle the body of the can and may be housed between the can andthe lid. It is of course clasped prior to the operation of opening.

The construction of the clasp will be best understood on reference toFigs. II, III, IV, and V, from which it will be seen that it is formedby cutting notches 7 in the ends of the strip and slightly cranking theends, so that they may be readily engaged after the manner shown in Fig.VI. WVe prefer to form the serrations in more than one series and toarrange that the apices of the different series shall be at differentheights.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with a can, an openertherefor comprising a ring having a cutting I formed separately from thecutter and adaptedge to engage the top of the can, said cutter ed to fitthereup0n,substantia11y as described.

being split and adapted to be expanded to fit In testimony whereof wehave hereunto set around the can or to have its ends in terloeked ourhands in the presence of two subscribing 5 to form the cutter,substantialiyas described. witnesses.

2. In combination, the can, an expansible ROBERT ALEXANDER SLOAN. cutterof ring form having interlocking ends J. E. LLOYD BARNES. whereby thecutter may be expanded to fit Witnesses: about the can or have its endsinterlocked CHARLES COLLINS,

I0 to form the ring-shaped cutter, and the lid JOHN IIOYLAND.

